GRE Requirements
GRE General Test scores are required for some areas of specialization. The requirements listed below are specific to Fall 2026 and are subject to change for future admissions cycles. Areas review their requirements annually in spring.
If the GRE is required by the area of specialization you are applying to, scores must be included in the application for it to be considered complete and eligible for review. Applicants to areas requiring scores must therefore test prior to December 1 and include the self-reported scores in the application at the time of submission. To ensure a fair and consistent review, faculty will only review applications that are complete. For this reason, no exception can be made to an area’s GRE requirement.
Educational Testing Services (ETS) will not submit scores that are more than five years old. If your scores are more than five years old and you are applying to an area that requires GRE scores, you will need to retest in order to submit official scores.
In September 2023, the GRE General Test transitioned to a shorter format. The Department of Psychology will consider scores from the longer and shorter versions of the test as equivalent. Individuals who took the longer test do not need to retest, provided scores are not more than five years old. Learn more about the GRE General Test format.
GRE Requirements by Area of Specialization
| Area | Is GRE General test required | Is GRE General test considered if submitted? | Is GRE Psychology Subject test required? | Is GRE Psychology Subject test considered if submitted? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive and Brain Sciences (CAB) | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Clinical Science and Psychopathology Research (CSPR) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Counseling Psychology | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychology (I-O) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Personality, Individual Differences and Behavior Genetics (PIB) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Quantitative/Psychometric Methods (QPM) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Social Psychology | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Guidance and Resources for Test Takers
If the GRE General Test is required for the area that you are applying to, or if you will submit optional General Test and/or Subject Test scores, we recommend that you take the test several months before applying to our program. This allows time to reschedule if extenuating circumstances necessitate it or retest if you are not satisfied with your scores. This also ensures you have scores in advance of our December 1 application deadline.
Guidance on taking the GRE and submitting your scores is available from the Graduate School.
Educational Testing Services (ETS), which administers the GRE, has a Fee Reduction Program that provides vouchers for some groups of test-takers:
- “U.S. citizens or resident aliens” with demonstrated financial need or unemployment.
- Members of specific programs that work with underrepresented groups.
The Department of Psychology cannot provide test waivers or pay for applicants to take the test.
Faculty reviewers in areas that have made the GRE General Test optional will review the scores if they are provided. Test scores are considered as part of a holistic assessment of applicants’ academic preparation. Providing scores may be particularly appropriate when, for example, an applicant needs to demonstrate quantitative skills that may not be readily apparent in other application materials such as coursework.
Including GRE Psychology Subject Test scores may be particularly appropriate when an applicant has limited psychology coursework or has not taken any psychology courses recently. If included in the application, Subject Test scores are considered as part of a holistic assessment of applicants’ academic preparation.